December 2009 Archives

Enjoyable romp through the closing years of the pre Tudor monarchs, with lots of detail on the silk business; late medieval trades, guilds and hierarchies; Italian monopolies of silk cloth manufacture and international finance; and good coverage of the dynasties involved in the fast moving politics that marked the end of the Wars of the Roses.

The novel revolves around Isabel, (fictional?) sister of Edward IV's mistress Jane Shore, and a London silkwoman who falls in love with the future King Richard III - he of "Princes in the Tower" infamy - after a chance tavern meeting as a 14 year old bride-to-be. Yes, not a terribly credible plot line, and there were some turns of phrase that didn't sit comfortably ("back-up" - have we suddenly found ourselves in a 20th century crime thriller, dear reader?), but a good enough yarn to keep me turning all 400+ pages.

If you like Elizabeth Chadwick, you'll like Vanora Bennett.

Amazon.co.uk link: Queen of Silks - Vanora Bennett

Marvellous sequel to Travels with a Tangerine, with Tim and artist side kick Martin Yeoman, following in Ibn Battutah's footsteps through the Sultanates and Kingdoms of 14th century India.

Spendid travellers' tales told with many a lovely turn of phrase, and plenty of context - present day, historical and geographical.

I can't believe I have let The Hall of a Thousand Columns sit unread on my bookshelf since receiving it as my leaving present from Norton Rose, way back in 2005!

...and googling for Martin Yeoman has revealed:

"The third and final part of Tim Mackintosh-Smith's trilogy on the 14th-century Moroccan traveller Ibn Battutah will be published by John Murray in July 2010. Landfalls: On the Edge of Islam with Ibn Battutah follows the Arab wanderer's eccentric route from the Maldives to Andalusia via China and Timbuktu.

As with Tim's previous books, Martin's drawings will accompany the text, and the jacket will feature one of his paintings. Martin himself will make a guest appearance in the Chinese and Spanish chapters."

I can't wait!

Amazon.co.uk link: The Hall of a Thousand Columns - Tim Mackintosh-Smith